Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-06-09
KING AND BABY.
A Good Lesson Drawn from the Death of .
Faithful, Trusting Dog.

A Good Lesson Drawn from the Death of .
Faithful, Trusting Dog.
Papa had said at breakfast that he
would have to shoot King, our dog. a
magnificent fellow of the St. Bernard
type.
Shoot King!
Why. he had saved baby's life once.
when she fell into the river from the
Duck bridge. and even papa had cried
little over him that evening, and
held his great head between his hands
and looked down into his fine eyes. as
though he were human! And now he
was going to shoot him because he had
been bitten By another dog that was
rabid.
Isat at my writing-desk two hours
after the flat had gone forth. The
fragrance of the apple orchard came
in through the window. A great pur-
pie lilac tossed its breath in at the
easement, and bird in the maple tree
sang as though its heart were bursting
with rapture. Away in the meadow
the daisies grew white along the stone
walls, and there. among the clover
heads and fern by the river bank. papa
WAS going to shoot dear old King.
Baby-five-year-old and queen Of our
household-baby was playing on the
veranda with dolls made of long-necked
gourds dressed up in towels. napkins.
tides. any thing she could lay her pre-
cious hands upon. Iloved her SO, and
King had saved her for me once!
He was so honest, so faithful and so
true to every trust imposed upon him.
that we could never have begun house,
keeping without him.
Papa brought him in when baby was
only two days old. and he looked down
into the cradle with such wise eyes,
and leaned his fine head down against
the pillow and then looked back at
papa, saying in every action; Il swear
eternal fidelity to my young mistress,
and papa said to me, softly Ale under
stands all about it, don't you, King?"
turning to him.
At ten o'clock they were there by the
river.
Stand there and look ut me. King"
Dear. faithful King! He stood there,
his grand head motionless. his great
brown eyes turned with such loving
trust upon papa.
A sharp report in the June air, lit
tie curl of smoke in the sunshine, a
thrill and SILVER in the daisy heads
about Kings feet, and he staggered to-
wards papa.
Papa was on his knees beside him.
great tears rolling down his cheeks,
and his arms about the dear head.
liking, poor old fellow, l had to do
it. There was no other way!'
A long. shuddering moan. the droop-
ing Of the brown eyes. the fainter
beating of the truest heart ever dog
had, and it was all over. 1t had to be
Conc. Death was better than what
would have come with life.
At supper that evening. baby asked:
'Where is King. papa? Iwant to play
wifi King little while"
l said to her: King is dead, darling;
you will never have him to play with
any more"
She climbed down from her chair
without word. l found her in the
parlor in an armchair an hour later.
asleep with tears on her baby cheeks.
The summer and the winter passed.
June once more held high carnival in
the orchards and meadows. One ra-
diant afternoon, baby was again asleep
in the parlor.
But she was SO fast asleep. no kiss
of mine could ever awaken her. The
sweet face was fairer than the apple
bloom of the orchards. But it would
never smile back ut me again. The
little hands were dimpled and dainty
as ever. but they would never elias p
about my neck again. The golden hair
was still brighter than the sunshine.
but it would never again toss in the
wind in romps with King over
the lawn.
How could give her up? How could
life 60 on without her?
As stood there asking myself such
questions as only a mother can. papa.
with his strong arms about me, said: |
ut is Just year ago that shot King
1t was best for him. 1t is best for |
baby. perhaps. for life might have !
brought her worse things than death. |
We can not see. but He knows. Let us
trust Him. as King trusted me-"
The daisies have tossed their white |
beads in the wind for six summers |
now; since then. have learned the |
lesson of trust But every June Think
of King and my baby.-YomtHs COM
panion.